Corn-shucker.



PATENTED NGV. 3, 1903.

N. osTIGUY.

CORN SHUGKER.

APPLIOTION FILED DEO. 22,'1902.

Inventory,l

N0 MODEL.

No4, wAsmNsToN n c PATENTED Nov. a, 190s.

N. OSTIGUY.

CORN SHUGKBR.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 22, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E0 MODEL.

Attorneys UNITED STATES atented November 3, 1903.

NAPOLEON OSTIGUY, OF ST. HYACINTHE, CANADA.

CORN-SHUCKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,897, dated November 3, 1903.

. Application filed December 22,1902. Serial No. 136,111. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, NAPOLEON Os'rrGUY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at St. Hyacinthe, county of St. Hyacinthe, Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn- Shuckers; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to corn shuckers. There is now being introduced an article for this purpose which comprises substantially a pair of shears or tongs provided with a pair of handles which are operated in such a manner as to eect the separation of the ear from the cornstalk and simultaneously eectiug the removal of the ear from its shuck or husk. This operation incidentally employs a knife or point which pierces the cob near its base to initiate the operation described.

The present invention provides improvements upon the form of corn -shucker described, the principal objects of the invention being to provide means for insuring the proper positioning of the ear with respect to the entering point and also to provide for collecting the ears after the shucking operation is completed.

The invention consists iu the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in the claims. I

Throughout the drawings and specification the. same numerals of reference indicate like parts.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents my invention in perspective, showing the same as it is about to be applied. Fig. 2 represents the invention also in perspective, a portion only being shown, however, and representing the parts in the next stage of the operation following that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents the operation-as being nearly completed, only a portion of the apparatus being shown, as in Fig. 2.

Referring to the parts more particularly, 4: represents the body of the shucker, which, as indicated, comprises a pair of arms 5 and 8, pivoted together by means of a suitable bolt 6. Near their inner extremities these arms sion at the outer extremity of the arm 8 aforesaid, and in conjunction with the point 10 there is provided an inclined upward extension 12 for a purpose which Will appear.

In the operation of this shucker it should be understood that the ear of corn is received at the bottom of the aforesaid V-opening 9, whereupon the projecting knife or point 10 penetrates the cob at its base and effects its separation from the stalk, a continuance of the movement of the knife forcing an entrance of the inclined portion 12 at the locality where the incision was made, which causes the cob to be forced upwardly and effects the separation of the ear or kernel from its husk in this manner. It should of course be understood also that the Width of the point 10 is not sufficient to sever 'the husk, but simply pierces the same, and is only of sufficient Width to insure the amputation of the cob.

The apparatus described above constitutes the basis for an application for a United States patent, the same having been filed by me at or about October 1, 1902, which application bears Serial No. 125,527.

In order to facilitate the operation and to insure the effective operation of the point 10, I provide a presser-arm 13, which is disposed substantially in the same direction as the outer portion of the arm 5 and which extends across the opening of the V 9. This arm constitutes, preferably, an integral extension of a helical spring 14, disposed about a bolt l5, carried by the arm 5, whereby the arm 13 is constrained toward the vertex of the V- opening, as will be readily understood. To this arm is attached a chain or cord 16, which limits its movement in this direction, however, the extremity of this chain being attached at some suitable point 17, such as that IOO indicated. Now when the arms are thrown wide open into such a position as that in which they are shown in Fig. l a separation takes place between the V-opening 9 and the arm 13, admitting of the introduction of the base of the ear into the space in front of the V-opening 9, whereupon a partial closure of the arms allows the arm 13 to come against the side of the stalk or ear, pressing the same well down into thevertex of the V-opening, as will be readily understood. As the arms come into their closed position the ear is supported upon its outer side bya rest or cradle 18. This cradle is preferably constructed of i5 stout wire and comprises, as it were, two conz5 so as to form a large oblong loop or eye 23.

The extremities of this wire are attached, as k,f indicated, to the members of the V at some distance from its vertex. I provide also a wing-frame 24, also formed of wire and carrying upon its upper portion a suitable net 25, preferably also of wire of line mesh, the frame 24 of this wing being formed with eyes 26, which receive, respectively, the bight'20 aforesaid and the horizontal extension 21, the connection being such as to permit the inward movement of the upper portion of the wing, as will be readily understood. The lower extension 27 of this wing is bent round so that it lies adjacent to the loop 23, at which point it terminates in a toe 2S. A helical spring 29, carried by the horizontal extension 21, attaches to the wing-frame 24 and normally maintains the wing in its extreme upward position, in which position the aforesaid toe 2S will lie in the path of the inclined extension 12 aforesaid. From this arrangement it should appear that as the severing of the cob progresses and as itis being forced upwardly to disengage it from the shuck the inclined portion 12 engages the lower side of the toe 28 and effects a movement of the wing 24, so as to rotate it upon the eyes 26, whereby the ear of corn, as it has now become loosened from its contiguous parts, is deflected and thrown, as it were, so that the ear falls into the basket 30, provided for the purpose of gathering the ears. As indicated, this basket comprises a frame 31, of suitable form, which is supported by the arm 8 aforesaid, this frame being bent substantially as shown, so as to conform upon two of its sides with the outline of the arm 8, and it is attached to the said arm by suitable eyebolts 32. A lower extension or member 33 is provided. To the frame 31 and this member 33 is attached a suitable net 34, constituting the basket, the mesh of which net may be substantially similar to that of the net 25.

In Fig. 3 the mode of operation of the device is very clearly illustrated,` the ear of corn 35 being shown in process of separationv from its husk 36, this ear 35 being shown in Fig. 1 afterit is supposed -tohave been caught in the basket 30 in the manner described.

While I consider the form and construction shown as the one best adapted to the purposes of this invention, I do not limit myself to the particular form described, and modified forms of my invention must be considered within the scope of the claims following.

What I consider new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination, a pair of pivoted arms, one of said arms being adapted to receive au nnshucked ear of corn, the other of said arms comprising a knife cooperating to shuck said ear, a presser-arm comprising a resilient coil attached to one of said arms, said presserarm comprising au extension projecting near the path of said knife, said coil operating to constrain said extension toward one of said arms, and a link connecting said extension with the other of said arms.

2. In combination, a pair of pivoted arms, one of said arms having a V-shaped extension formed substantially in the plane of that arm, a presser-arm projecting across the opening of said V-shaped extension, means for constraining said presser-arm toward the opening of said V-shaped extension, the other of said arms comprising a knife cooperating with said V-shaped extension, and a member connected with said other arm, and adapted to engage said presser-arm when said arms are opened. Y

3. In combination, an arm having a substantially V-shaped extension, a second arm pivoted thereto, and comprising a knife cooperating with said V-shaped extension, a presser-arm normally projecting across the opening of said V-shaped extension, and a member attached to said second arm, and adapted to move said arm away from said opening when said knife moves away from said opening.

4. In combination, a pair of pivoted arms, each having extensions beyond the pivotpoint thereof, one of said extensions comprising a knife, said extensions cooperating to sever an ear of corn fromits husk, a basket carried by one of said arms on the side remote from the point at which said ear is severed, and means for deflecting said ear laterally into said basket.

5. In combination, a pair of pivoted arms, one of said arms being adapted to receive an unshucked ear of corn, the other of said arms comprising a knife and being adapted to c0- operate therewith to effect the shucking of said ear, said arms having an angular movement, a spring having an extension disposed substantially radially with respect to the pivot-point of said arms, said spring being IIO adapted to constrain said extension toward one of said arms, and a chain connecting said extension with the other of said arms whereby the movement of said extension is limited.

6. In combination, a pair of pivoted arms adapted to effect the husking of an ear of corn, a basket carried thereby, a movable wing carried by one of said arms, means whereby the movement of said blades may actuate said wing, said wing being adapted to deiiect the husked ear into said basket.

7. In combination, a pair of arms adapted to effect the husking of an ear of corn, a pivoted wing carried by one of said arms, an eX- tension carried by the other of said arms and adapted to engage a portion of said wing to move the same, and a basket carried by said arms, said wing being adapted to deflect the shucked ear into said basket.

8. In combination, a pair of arms, one of said arms being adapted to receive an unshucked ear of corn, the other of said arms comprising a knife and an inclined extension, which extension is adapted to eifect the removal of said ear from its husk, a pivoted wing carried by said first arm, a portion of said wing lying in the path of said inclined extension whereby the relative movement of said arms may rotate said wing, and a basket adjacent thereto, said wing being adapted to deiiect said ear after shucking into said basket. y

9. In combination, a pair of pivoted arms, one of which comprises a substantially V- shaped extension, which V-shaped extension is adapted to receive an unshucked ear of corn, the other of said arms comprising a knife, and an inclined extension cooperating with said V- shaped extension to effect the shucking of said ear, a wicket carried by said V-shaped extension and constituting a vertical support for the unshucked ear, a pivoted Wing carried by said wicket, a portion whereof projects into the path of said inclined extension, and a basket carried by said arms, said Wing being adapted to deflect the husked ear into said basket.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand-in the presence oftwo witnesses.

NAPOLEON OSTIGUY. 

